FDA rejects Novo’s Tresiba

The FDA asked the Danish insulin-maker to complete a cardiovascular safety study of the long-acting insulin in 7,500 patients before granting market authorisation. The decision on Tresiba comes just a few weeks after the European Medicines Agency had given the green light for the once daily insulin degludec.

Most analysts don't expect Novo to have databefore 2016, offering market leader Sanofi more years to sell its blockbuster Lantus without a challenge from Tresiba. Sanofi made about 20% of its revenues with Lantus (US$6.6bn) last year – more than 50% of the global diabetes market. The FDA's complete response letter also caught Novo's related Ryzodeg in the regulatory net, which was also backed by the expert panel.

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